“The number of packages has tripled”: behind the scenes of Santa's modern-day elves at La Cavalerie

“Le remplissage des avis de passage, c'est ce qui nous fait perdre le plus de temps”, à propos des absences à domicile. Midi Libre – Laura Vaillant

Recrutements, organisation et tournées intensifiées… Avec l’explosion des colis à Noël, les facteurs du Sud-Aveyron redoublent d’efforts pour livrer les cadeaux à temps.

And if Santa's elves really existed ? If the legend was ultimately not one ? In the shadow of fairy lights and sparkling shop windows, a discreet army dressed in blue crisscrosses the territory. The people of South Aveyron rub shoulders with them daily, passing them in the streets of their village or on the winding roads in the area.

Since Black Friday, the daily life of postmen has been reduced to parcels by the thousands. “On my round, the number of parcels has tripled”, explains Alexis Glaussel, a postman at La Cavalerie since June. The same observation goes for Philippe Laur, who has been in the job for three years. For the “peak period” (from the end of November to the end of December, Editor's note), the brand provides some data. The number of packages received by the site increases from 6,000 to 8,000. A considerable increase in the workload for these elves. Christmas and its gifts oblige.

Santa's Secretariat

During their rounds, postmen can sometimes come across a few surprises in the mailboxes. In an envelope intended for Santa Claus, the list of Christmas gifts written by the little ones. Once received, the mail is sent to Libourne, in Gironde, where sixty people are responsible for responding to it. “In France, 83% of parents consider that Santa Claus's Secretariat plays an important role in children's first correspondence”, the brand says. However, the phenomenon seems to have run out of steam in recent years. This is evidenced by the postmen of La Cavalerie who, according to their estimates, have received fewer letters than in previous years in recent weeks. In Aveyron, around 300 letters were sent to Santa's secretariat for 11,000 from all over France.

Elves as reinforcements for the period

While waiting for the big day, they are working to ensure that gifts are delivered on time to the people of southern Aveyron. For the occasion, people on fixed-term contracts (CDD) have been recruited. During the “peak period”, 420 were hired in Occitanie, including 17 in Aveyron, according to the brand.

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The division of the tour areas is done by mapping software. Midi Libre – Laura Vaillant

At La Cavalerie, three people on fixed-term contracts came to lend a hand to the ten employees already in post. This help was more than necessary to ensure the sorting of parcels from 8:45 a.m. when the first truck arrives, the mail truck and the loading of the vehicles before leaving on the tour. And there, everyone has their own technique for organizing the filling of the van.

For Alexis Glaussel, the storage is done by village. “And above all, I note when there is a package to deliver on my tour,he specifies, a bit teasingly. I know I forget easily.” For Philippe Laur, it's all a question of streets and location in the truck. As for the rest, he knows how to count on his memory capacity.

A GPS memory

“I know who lives where, what everyone's delivery habits are,” he congratulates himself, at the wheel of his yellow car. In the hilltop villages and isolated hamlets of South Aveyron, this work of memorization becomes a precious asset during the holidays. On his round going as far as Fondamente via Cornus, the young 26-year-old postman knows every dead end, every street, and every person.

In these areas, driving can sometimes be complicated on remote paths. So, every morning a team meeting is organized before departures. The opportunity for Camille Bibian-Quinto, operational manager, to take stock of safety. “Right now, the major point we're addressing is traffic conditions.” Black ice requires it.

“I wake up every morning with a smile,” explains Philippe Laur, who has several professional experiences. Midi Libre – Laura Vaillant

“Ah, he's Rocky”, jokes Philippe Laur at the crossing of a border collie racing with his van, in the hamlet of Viala. “What's good during this period is that people are waiting for us with a smile. We're Santa's little elves.” Like this Wednesday morning before the fateful day when, in a hamlet a few kilometers from Cornus, a lady received five packages. “You can see it's Christmas”, she jokes as she receives them. Sometimes expected right at the doorstep, the young father of three makes his rounds with a smile.

When he arrived at La Cavalerie three years ago, he was assigned this route. “I did it for eight months non-stop,” he rewinds. And then I was sent to the others. In all, I think I spent a year on this one.” A period of time during which the postman had time to get to know the users and learn each one's habits. “It's the tour I'm most attached to”, he confesses. With a maximum of 100 packages to deliver per day and per tour, Philippe Laur hopes, like the 470 postmen in the department, to ensure delivery on time so that young and old alike can find their presents under the tree on Christmas morning.